Beverage cooler



March 16, 1937. R, MSEIBER'T 2,073,950 BEVERAGE COOLER Filed May 2, 1936Patented Mar. 16, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cooling liquids,such as beer, and has for its object the production of a simple andsubstantial apparatus for this purpose.

Where beer and/ or other similar beverages are served in largequantities, they are usually kept in the basement, cr some otherrcomseparate from that in which it is dispensed. The barrels may becooled if desired, but lmeans is provided for cooling the liquidprevious to its being dispensed.

This invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for cooling Vthebeer. The apparatus is positioned in the pipe extending from the barrelor other storage vessel to the faucet where the beer is dispensed.

One object of this invention is to produce a cooler inV which all of theconnections are at the top, so as to be accessible at all times, andwhich can therefore be readily connected and disconnected.

In order to explain the invention so that its Lconstruction andoperation can be readily understood, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing in which it has been illustrated in its preferredform, and in which Figure 1 is a diametrical vertical section throughthe cooler;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig- 11.1"@ 2i L Figure 4'is aview taken along line-4 4, Figure 2, a part being shown in section; f Y

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions oftheseveral elements used in dispensing and cooling beer; and

.Figure 6 is a side elevation, looking in the direotion of arrow 6 inFigure 4.

In the drawing, reference numeral 'I designates the floor of a saloonand 8 a basement room in which the beer is stored in barrels 9.

Reference numeral III designates a container for cracked ice II from oneside of which a shelf I2 projects. Attached to the container I II yarethe faucet I3 and the vent cock I4. The cooler has been indicated byreference numeral I5.

From Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the cooler consists of acylindrical member I5 whose lower end rests on the upper surface of thebottom I6, which is provided with an upwardly extending flange II.

'I'he bottom has two holes I8 and I9 that are located on opposite endsof a diameter. Holes Ia and Illa communicate with holes I8 and I9 @5respectively, and are threaded for the reception of elbows and 20a,whose `inner ends are in communication with the interior of thecontainer through openings I8 and I9. Y

Positioned on the top of the cylindrical member I 5 is a ring 2|. Thisring has a flange 22 that 5 laps the upper end of the cylindricalmember. The upper surface of ring 2| has a groove 23 in which is locateda sealing ring 24. A liange projects upwardly around the outside ofgroove 23.

A cover 2B, vof a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter offlange 25 is provided on its under surface with a circular rib 2l thatis supported on the sealing ring 24. Ring 2| is also provided Von,diametrically opposite sides Ywith lugs 28 to which .the ends of thebail 29 are connected. The ends of bail 29 are provided with `hooks30seewFigure 6, which open on opposite sides of the` bail so that thelatter can be applied and removed by a rotary movement. The bail isprovided at its center with a threaded opening for thereception of thescrew 3|, whose lower end engages vthe top of the lug 32 on thecover. Bymeans of the screw` 3| the cover can be forced into engagement with thesealing ring 24.

The bottom I6 and the ring 2| are preferably secured to the cylindricalmember by being soldered thereto, but may be forced into sealingengagement with the cylindrical member by suitable tension members.

The ring 2| is also provided with two perforated lugs 33 and a tubularlug 34. The lugs 33 are so positioned that they are directly above theelbows 2n and 2ia. Pipes 35 and 35a have their lower ends connected withthe elbows 20 and 20a., and their upper ends projecting through theopenings in lugs 33. Couplings 36 and 31 are secured to the upper endsof pipes and 35a.

A copper tube 38 is connected with the tubular plug 34 by means of a cap39, and connects the interior of the cooler with the vent cock I4(Figure 5).

The interior of the cooler is hot tin-dipped and then silver-plated sothat it will resist the corrosive action of the beer. The outside can beiinished in any suitable way, as by enamel, or nickel plating.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that a pipe 39a has one endin communication with the barrel near its bottom, and the otherconnected with the coupling 36 on the upper end of pipe 35. An air line40 connects the upper end of the barrel with a pump (not shown) by meansof which either 'air or CO2 under pressure can be applied to thecontents of the barrel if the pressure of the carbonio acid gas absorbedby the beer should not be sufficient to cause the beer to flow to thecooler.

Pipe 35a is connected with the dispensing faucet I3 by means of a pipe4I. The cooler is surrounded by ice in the manner shown in Figure 5.

Attention is called to the fact that by the construction shown anddescribed connection can be made with both pipes 35 and 35a, lat the topof the cooler, which construction permits the cooler to be readilyconnected and disconnected, which is of great practical importancebecause such coolers must be removed and cleaned at intervals.

The beer is delivered to and withdrawn from the cooler near its bottom,and the contents are maintained under pressure and this prevents theliberation of CO2 and the formation of foam in the container.

If for any reason, too great a supply of gas should be present-in thecooler, as much of the gas can be discharged through the vent cock asmay be desired. Since the cooler is in constant communication with thebarrel and its contents maintained at the same pressure as in thebarrel, the beer will be kept alive, as the CO2 will not escape, as itwould if the beer were maintained under atmospheric pressure.

The vent is, of course, essential for the purpose of allowing the aircontained in the cooler to escape when beer is allowed to ow into it forthe rst time, as after the cooler has been first installed or after ithas been cleaned.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by means of the constructionshown and described, a cooler is provided that can be readily installedand removed owing to the fact that the connections with its interior areall made at the top.

The peculiar construction of the bottom permits the pipes 35 and 35a, tobe positioned on the outside and held in upright position by means ofthe lugs 33.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new isz- 1. A coolingapparatus for use in dispensing beverages, comprising in combination, ahollow cylinder, a bottom having a cylindrical flange lapping thecylinder, a ring positioned on the upper end of the cylinder, said ringhaving a circular flange lapping the cylinder, the bottom having twoopenings communicating the inside 0f the cylinder with the outside, thering having two perforated lugs, pipes having their lower ends connectedwith the openings in the bottom and projecting through the openings inthe perforated lugs, and means for closing the opening in the ring.

2. A cooling apparatus for use in dispensing beverages, comprising incombination, a hollow cylinder, a bottom having a cylindrical flangelapping the cylinder, a ring positioned on the upper end of thecylinder, said ring having a circular flange lapping the cylinder, thebottom having two openings communicating the inside of the cylinder withthe outside, the ring having two perforated lugs, and a tubular lugprojecting from its peripheral surface, pipes having their lower endsconnected with the openings in the bottom, the upper endsy of the pipesprojecting through the perforated lugs of the ring, a cover for closingthe opening in the ring, and means for forcing the cover into sealingengagement with the ring.

3. A cooling apparatus for vuse in dispensing beverages, comprising incombination, a hollow cylinder, a bottom having a cylindrical flangelapping the cylinder, a ring positioned on the upper end of thecylinder, said ring having a circular flange lapping the cylinder, thebottom having two openings communicating the inside of the cylinder withthe outside, the ring having two lugs having perforations whose axes areperpendicular to the plane of the ring, two lugs positioned intermediatethe perforated lugs and a tubular lug, all of the lugs extending fromits periphery, two pipes having their lower ends connected with theopenings in the bottom, and their upper ends extending through theperforations in the lug, a cover for the opening in the ring and meansincluding a bail connected with the lugs on the ring for holding thecover in place.

4. In a beverage cooling apparatus comprising a hollow cylinder, abottom secured to its lower end and a ring secured to the upper endthereof, the ring having a cylindrical ange lapping the upper end of thehollow cylinder, a cylindrical flange extending upwardly for positioninga cover, the upper surface of the ring inside of the last mentionedflange having a groove for the reception of a sealing gasket, twodiametrically positioned peripheral lugs, a bail having its endsconnected with the lugs, a cover having a rib for engaging the gasketand means comprising a screw carried by the bail for forcing the coverinto sealing engagement with the gasket.

ROBERT M. SEIBERT.

